Ear of the Devil Lettuce

Lactuca sativa

Seeds per pack ~ 100

Germination: 97%  Oct 2024 Packed for 2025

Ear of the Devil lettuce (Italian: Orecchio del Diavolo) is an heirloom lettuce variety known for its strikingly colorful, slightly frilled leaves. This variety is both a culinary delight and an ornamental addition to gardens due to its vibrant coloration and unique texture. Mildly sweet with a slightly nutty and earthy undertone. Less bitter than many red lettuces, making it versatile for salads and garnishes.

Appearance: Deep reddish-bronze to dark purple in color, with hints of green near the base. Semi-loose heads with large, broad, and slightly wavy or crinkled leaves. Crisp and tender, especially when harvested young.

Growth Characteristics: Often classified as a loose-leaf or semi-butterhead lettuce. Performs well in cool weather, making it ideal for spring and fall planting. Compact, suitable for small gardens or containers. Relatively fast-growing, maturing in about 50–60 days.

Cultivation Tips: Prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Thrives in well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Requires consistent watering to avoid bitterness but should not be waterlogged. Plant seeds or seedlings 6–8 inches apart to allow room for leaves to spread. Harvest outer leaves as needed or cut the entire head when mature.

These seeds produce a lettuce that has massive heads with deer tongue shaped leaves. Green leaves that have lots of red tones and crunchy midribs. When harvested young, they resemble Red Deer Tongue but with better color. Very slow to bolt, heat tolerant and always good flavor. The largest head of lettuce we have ever seen was one of these monsters.